b'ChemicalSolutionsMOLLY TROUPES DEDICATION TO HER CRAFTWhen Molly Troupe 12 joined Freeland Spiritsin Portland, OR, in 2017, only 1% of the worlds distilleries were owned by women. Now its 2%,but that is progress, said Troupe.As master distiller at Freeland until last year, Troupe isTroupe added that a public-speaking elective turned out recognized nationally for blending and distilling. She servedto be very helpful in her work. I remember thinking, Im as a member of the American Craft Spirits Association board,never going to use this again. But now, if I can talk about the and was featured in Forbes Magazines 30 Under 30 seriespolymer orientation of polypropylene-backed packaging tape, for food and beverage. After a whirlwind eight years, TroupeI can talk about anything.has moved to a new phase in her life, recently starting aA job in the chemistry storeroom was also a key factor consulting business to explore any aspect of chemistry thatin her career development. The skills I learned there have sparks her curiosity while also helping other distilleries growbeen helpful in lab settings in real life, she said. One and thrive. She was recently named Master Distiller at Utah- thing Im very proud of is that, at a previous job, we had a based Clear Water Distilling. vacuum distillation machine called a Rotavap or a Rotary It was at SOU where Troupes dream began. I choseEvaporator. Because of my work in SOUs chemistry SOU because it had a chemistry and forensics program.storeroom, I knew how to put it together. In fact, Troupe At the time, it was, I believe, the only forensic program incredits her experience with the Rotavap in helping to the state, said Troupe. When I visited Southern Oregon,create Freeland gins distinctive flavor, as she was better I really loved Ashland and the nature of the chemistryable to infuse fresh herbal flavors that can be lost in a heat program itself. distillation process.SOUs program stood out because of its small classes andAfter graduation, Troupe attended the prestigious Heriot-hands-on opportunities. At SOU, you have a lot moreWatt University in Scotland where she earned an MSc in access to equipment. I know organic chemistry studentsBrewing and Distilling. Today, Troupe is exploring a range from different universities who never got to touch big piecesof opportunities. Consulting is fun because it allows me to of equipment, she said. Beginning in the sophomore year,work with a lot of different people, to listen, and help them youre encouraged to do that at SOU. Those opportunitiesfigure out and create what they need, she said. are complete game-changers. She is also experimenting and recently developed a line of For Troupe, even courses outside her major helped hersmall-batch perfume called Duality Fragrance. I learned career. Theres quite a bit I learned at SOU that gave me ahow uniquely partnered perfume and spirits are in terms of foundation for success, including gaining comfort advocatingproduction, and the more I learned about perfume, the more for myself. In a small class, you learn how to talk to adults,interested I became, she said.she said. PHOTO COURTESY OF ??????? TH I DESSPPRRIINNGG220022555TEH ER ARADI ERR5'